Archive for the 'Airplanes' Category

Did you know that when you purchase an airline ticket can have an impact on the price? Buying tickets on Tuesdays or over the weekend can get you a better deal. Also, purchasing them seven weeks before the trip will usually get you the best fare.

The linked article is a firsthand account by Air Force pilot Brian Shul of what it’s like to fly an SR-71 in combat conditions—in his case, over Libya in 1986. For those who aren’t familiar with it, the SR-71 is the fastest plane ever built, reaching speeds well above Mach 3. Shul also provides some background information on the plane, which was retired in 1989 (then reactivated in a limited capacity and retired again in 1998).

The linked article is a glowing review of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. If the plane lives up to all the praise being heaped on it, we’ll have the fighter jet equivalent of a grand slam home run. It’s something of a technological marvel.

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, American Airlines sold passes that allow an unlimited amount of first class travel for the owner and a companion. Priced at about $350,000 originally, the people who bought them have never regretted the decision—although that’s not the case for American. They’re losing millions of dollars on these passes and are looking for any way to cancel them.

Back in 1956, test pilot Tom Attridge managed to shoot himself down while flying a fighter jet. He fired the bullets during a dive, went beneath them, then flew through them at Mach one as they slowed and their trajectory changed. The damage was bad enough that the plane crashed.

Knee Defenders are rubber grips that attach to the arms of an airplane tray table and prevent the person in front of you from reclining the seat, thus giving you more space to breath and move. Especially useful for big or tall people.

I’ve never put much thought into what it take to repossess commercial airplanes. The linked article is about Nick Popovich and his repo company, Sage-Popovich, Inc. Some of the repossessions require significant planning and a large team of people.

Airlines have had e-tickets for some time now, but it’s still necessary to get a printed boarding pass. Well, even that is on the way out. My friend Josh sent this screen print of his iPhone. It’s a “mobile boarding pass,” and the airline accepts it from the phone display.

The linked video footage shows the path of the airplane that veered off the runway and burst into flames on Saturday. Note the building that it narrowly missed—which happens to be a fire station. Apparently the quick fire response was a significant factor in everyone safely exiting the burning plane.